DISAPPOINTED: Cessnock Pool Users Group members Diane Partridge and Phil Murray ponder the decision about the Cessnock's new pool. Picture: Krystal Sellars

If a new aquatic centre is built in Cessnock, it is likely to include a 51-metre outdoor pool and a 25-metre indoor pool, and be located at Turner Park.

That option – with an estimated cost of $21 million – was endorsed by Cessnock City Council last Wednesday as its “long-term strategic direction” for Cessnock pool, with a $2 million upgrade to the existing pool as an interim strategy.

A feasibility and design report went on public exhibition in June 2016, but council went into caretaker mode for the local government election during the 60-day exhibition period, meaning the decision would be up to the new council.

With nine new councillors around the table, the pool report was deferred in November 2016, and again in July 2017.

CPUG member Diane Partridge said the group was frustrated that the saga has been drawn out for so long, and that they are devastated that their dream facility is off the table.

“We can accept that it is going to Turner Park, and that council can only afford $20 million, but we don’t understand why any council in Australia would want to build an outdoor pool,” she said.

“A new 50-metre outdoor pool would just be a modern version of what we’ve got here now – it’s a waste of ratepayers’ money.”

‘Dream’ pool off the table

Cessnock Pool in its early days in 1935.

Cessnock Pool undergoing repairs in the 1940s.

Cessnock Baths as it looks today.

Option two in the Cessnock Aquatic Centre Feasability and Design Report - a 51-metre outdoor pool and a 25-metre indoor pool.

Option two in the Cessnock Aquatic Centre Feasability and Design Report.

Option two in the Cessnock Aquatic Centre Feasability and Design Report.

Councillors voted 12-1 in support of the recommendation at last week’s meeting, with independent councillor Ian Olsen the sole opponent.

Cr Olsen said the recommended option was a “watered down” version of the plan that was floated in 2012.

“It’s not what the pool users group has asked for, it’s not what anyone would have asked for,” he said.

“We have led these people up the garden path, now we have slammed the door in their face.

“We could have started with a 51-metre indoor pool, but now we are taking second-best.

“Six years later, we’re going backwards.”

Other councillors said the council simply could not afford the high-embellishment option.

Liberal councillor Paul Dunn said councillors were now more fiscally aware of the situation.

“Most of us agree Turner Park is the preferred option, but we can’t afford it, so we should just put the money that we do have into the current pool,” he said.

Labor councillor Di Fitzgibbon said it was important that council have short-term and long-term strategies.

“It’s a plan for a pool for now, and a pool for the future that addresses all community needs,” she said.

“Cessnock City can’t afford a $40 million pool – we would struggle with a $20 million pool.”

Cr Fitzgibbon commended the Pool Users Group for their determination.

“Without their passion and enthusiasm, this would have been put back on the shelf,” she said.

Labor councillor Jay Suvaal said council would have struggled to get developer contributions for the $48 million option, as the aquatic needs analysis of 2014 only identified the long-course outdoor/short-course indoor combination as meeting the community’s needs.

“The high-embellishment option would have relied heavily on grant funding, and every single ratepayer would have had to pay a rate rise,” he said.

“It’s a huge amount of money to spend on one project.

“We should be looking at other ways that we can achieve what we want.

“I would love to see a gold-plated pool at Turner Park, but we can’t afford it.

“But if we do get a magical $20 million, maybe we can go down that path.”

The new aquatic centre would cost $21 million, which could be funded from general revenue, development contributions, loans, grants and reserves.

The upgrade to the existing pool could cost up to $2 million, and works may include upgrading the program pool, installing a splash pad and improving the change rooms and amenities.

The council will receive a further report on the upgrade to the current pool and the construction of a new pool at Turner Park would be staged and funded.

Meanwhile, the Cessnock Pool Users Group plans to reconvene and hopes to hold a public meeting in the near future.